Elijah Cummings

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, one interesting story, when I think about my mother and father, neither one of them got past elementary school. My father was a laborer and my mother was a domestic. My father had the dream of becoming a homeowner. He found a beautiful house. He is a very prayerful man, and so he took all seven of his kids up to that house with my mother, and we literally kneeled in front of the house and prayed. I kid my father sometimes, I think the police thought we were protesting or something, but he had a dream. He said we would get that house. About a year later, we got the house. The interesting thing about it, though, is I was only about 10 years old. But to this day, some 40 years later, I still remember the name of the person who sold the house to us, and I also remember the previous owner and the broker. That says a lot. As a little kid, I remember that. And I will never forget going from a 2-bedroom house to a 4- bedroom house. And to have a bedroom where there were only two of us sleeping instead of four of us sleeping. When we talk about children, it is not the deed, it is the memory that is empowering; and those are powerful memories, just the gentlewoman's are. It is interesting, housing lifts not only you, but generations of you yet unborn. That is very, very special. While we do things here in the Congress and we wonder whether or not they are having a tremendous amount of impact, the fact is they do have impact and they do affect a lot of people, and they affect people that we will never even possibly see.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and thank the gentlewoman for her leadership. I also thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton). Every time I think about housing, coming from the inner city of Baltimore, I think about the various new housing projects that we have been able to come up with and get built in our Seventh Congressional District with Hope VI dollars. Of course Hope VI has had its problems here. But one of the things that we have noticed in the change, that change of environment does so much for children. So often we look at children and we say, how can we nurture their nature to make them the very best that they can be. I believe if a child can come home and have a safe place to do their homework and safe place to sleep, a safe neighborhood, a place to play, that lends itself to productivity. It lends itself to them feeling good about themselves. I think when we look at what is happening, the gentlewoman talked about various things that she was trying to do with various amendments. All of these things show a tremendous amount of sensitivity in an effort to help get people to where they want to go. What happens when a person buys a house, their whole attitude changes. They realize that they can do it. I am always amazed when I talk to people, when I was practicing law and would go to settlement, particularly first time home buyers, at the end of the whole process when you give them the keys, they would look at me and say, This is mine? That sense of empowerment of what they are doing, and the mere fact that they can come home and say look, we have a house. I think we have to continue the kind of efforts that we are doing. I know so many of us have worked hard to try to lift up people with regard to housing. We are going to continue to do that. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership. So often when people get to the point where they buy a house, as the gentlewoman said, it is like that initial step to allow them to go and do many, many other things.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Juneteenth Day. Each year, June 19th commemorates the end of slavery in this nation. It is a day of thanksgiving in the African-American community--a day in which we rejoice in the freedoms we enjoy and look ahead to a time when we can be completely free from the legacy of slavery. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were now free. This news, nearly two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, brought freedom to thousands of slaves in what was then the western parts on the United States. Juneteenth Day is the oldest known celebration of the end of American slavery. In decline for much of the 20th century, the celebration of Juneteenth was rejuvenated during '50's and '60's with the rising call of civil rights. Today, cities and towns across the country are celebrating Juneteenth. It serves as a reminder of where the African- American community was, where it is today, and where it can go. Mr. Speaker, I believe that we must know our history before we can move forward. Today, as the descendants of slaves and sharecroppers myself, I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives-- proud to celebrate Juneteenth Day.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. This afternoon, Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to address this whole issue of prescription drugs. It is an issue that is on the forefront of the minds of just about every senior in my district. Over the past year, I have visited at least 25 senior centers, and the stories that we are told over and over again would bring tears to almost anyone's eyes. Just the other day, we had a young lady, I say young, 70 years young, who in a meeting of seniors said to me, Mr. Cummings, I worked all my life. I worked very hard. Now that I am older, I find myself unable to afford my prescriptions. I go from drugstore to drugstore trying to collect samples, because I simply cannot afford the cost of prescription drugs. I wish that the Congress would be in tune with me and give me back my dignity. Then there was the gentleman at the Jewish senior citizen home in my district who stood up and said, You know, I cannot afford my prescription drugs anymore. What I am doing is cutting them in half and taking half of the prescribed dosage. I am 77 years old, and I am getting older and sicker every day. I want you to do something about it. Then he said something that is embedded in the DNA of every part of my memory bank. He said, Mr. Cummings, if the Congress does not do something fairly soon, I will be dead. We have other people in our districts throughout the country who are purchasing half of a prescription because they simply cannot afford the entire prescription. So I was very pleased today to hear and participate as the Democrats proposed a prescription drug plan. I know the Republicans have done the same thing. The issue now is that this Congress, Mr. Speaker, must act. There are many people who are depending upon us to come up with a reasonable plan so that they can live. While we are about the business of protecting our country against outside forces, we have to make sure that we do not deteriorate from the inside. These are people who have given their blood, sweat, and tears to lift up this great country; and they are in their senior years. It is a time when they should be resting and relaxing and feeling comfortable about their lives, but they are coming to a point where they are not only losing their dignity, but slowly but surely losing their lives. So I am hoping, Mr. Speaker, that we will take the words of those seniors who are not only in the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland, but those seniors who are throughout our entire country waiting and praying that we will take action. Last but not least, I have often said, Mr. Speaker, that we have one life to live, and that this is no dress rehearsal. This so happens to be that life. I think it should be our goal to bring the very best life to our very, very valued citizens, the very best life that we can. After all, this is one of the greatest countries in this world, and we should treat our seniors in a way that reflects the greatness of our country.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 4664, the Investing in America's Future Act, which authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) and places the foundation on a track to double it's budget in five years and to bolster undergraduate science, math, and engineering education. This measure authorizes a 15 percent increase in funding for the NSF for the next three years, starting with $5.5 billion in FY 2003, increases funding for major research equipment, and requires NSF to submit reports to Congress that will aid in the management of the foundation. The NSF has the mission of supporting science and engineering in general and funding basic research across many subject areas. The majority of the research supported by the NSF is conducted at our nation's colleges and universities. The monies from NSF help with scholarships, fellowships, and the recruitment and training of our next generation of researchers and scientists. This funding ensures that America's scientists are competitive in the global marketplace. NSF funding is a critical factor in determining whether students pursue postgraduate degrees in science and engineering. Doubling the NSF's budget will strengthen science research, development, and education. America's future directly depends on research conducted at our nation's schools. In fact, just this morning I meet with a group of researchers in my district, from Johns Hopkins, that rely on grants from NSF to conduct research. Many medical and technology breakthroughs have occurred because of the NSF funded basic research. Millions of dollars have been given to schools and school districts in my state of Maryland and across the nation. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and minority education and outreach programs will benefit from the across- the-board increase in NSF's budget. Two HBCU's, Morgan State and Coppin State, in my district, will be able to continue and expand programs at their institutions because of NSF support. Additionally, the Maryland State Department of Education has used NSF funds to improve school curriculum and encourage bright and talented students to pursue careers in the sciences. I would also like to thank the Science Committee and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for all of her hard work and her unfailing support of NSF. She has been a champion for the doubling of NSF's budget. Being the leader in math, science, and engineering research is important for our nation and the world. In order to achieve this goal, federal investment is imperative. This is a good bill because it does invest in America's future and deserves the support of all of my colleagues.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the words of the last speaker. We in Baltimore had a train derailment not very long ago, and I had an opportunity to arrive at the scene not long after that derailment. When I got there, the National Transportation Safety Board was already present and doing an outstanding job. The NTSB is charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation: railroad, highway, marine pipeline. Since its inception in 1967, the NTSB has investigated more than 110,000 aviation accidents and thousands of surface transportation accidents. It is now recognized as one of the world's premier accident investigative agencies. Although the NTSB has no regulatory or enforcement empowers, we increasingly rely on it in our efforts to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of all the traveling citizens. Heightened security is obviously a national priority, especially now. Therefore, our reliance on the NTSB in determining the probable cause of transportation accidents has greatly increased. I had the opportunity to see it again in my district, and I think the amazing thing was the time that these ladies and gentlemen took in painstaking details. They had to work under some very difficult circumstances when several trains derailed inside a tunnel; and it was very, very clear to us in Baltimore, we waited with bated breath for information coming from them. Although we had other people working at the scene, and our local people were working and working very hard, it was the NTSB that clearly was taking the lead in helping us to try to figure out how do we go along slowly; do we have hazardous materials. So while we are still waiting for a final determination, the fact is, they were very helpful to us all along the way. So often, what happens in circumstances is that we take so much for granted when we have an organization like the National Transportation Safety Board and just assume they are always going to be there, that they have enough money, that everything is going to be okay, and that we are not going to need them. The fact is that these things do happen. No one would have guessed that in the middle of Baltimore's downtown area, right at the stadium site, our two stadium sites, we would have had this incident happen, which basically closed down our downtown for several days. But thank God that the NTSB was there. Therefore, I stand with the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Mica) and certainly our ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), and all the members of our Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in supporting this very, very important reauthorization.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, as you may be aware, this week May 12-18, we celebrate National Transportation Week. The 2002 theme is ``Transportation . . . It Keeps America Moving.'' National Transportation Week is an opportunity to celebrate the successes of our transportation system and to promote transportation-related careers. As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Transportation Braintrust, I would like to share with you the concerns I have about our dwindling transportation workforce. I would like to point out the opportunities we have to increase the transportation workforce through initiatives underway by local universities and the U.S. Department of Transportation. When we discuss transportation, we focus on the more tangible aspects of the system that we see everyday, like the physical road, railroad tracks, and transit systems. We often overlook the very people who make the system work--the professionals and laymen who have established the U.S. transportation system as one of the safest and most efficient in the world. Transportation and traffic engineers, transportation planners, construction and work zone crews, intelligent transportation systems specialists, and transit operators to name just a few of the positions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. These jobs require personnel with the skills and talent to build, operate, and maintain a vast network of systems. Guaranteeing an efficient and smoothly operating transportation system requires the best and brightest in our workforce. Despite a recent US. News and World Report cover story that highlighted transportation engineering as one of the eight most secure jobs and the immersion of new technologies that are expanding career opportunities in the transportation industry, much of the seasoned transportation workforce is slowly disappearing. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 40 percent of the State and local transportation workforce is between the ages of 45-64. In the next 5 to 15 years, 40 to 50 percent of all transportation workers will begin to retire. An article in the July/August 2001 issue of Public Roads, entitled, Help Wanted: Meeting the Need for Tomorrow's Transportation Workforce, by Clark Martin, amply illustrates these concerns. I would like to submit the article for the record. These statistics, compounded by an increased demand on our transportation system, amplify the need for the development of a skilled transportation workforce to manage and operate the system. We must look at increased funding for programs that ensure an expanded pool of transportation personnel as-well-as gender and ethnic diversity within the current and future transportation workforce. Some programs that promote transportation jobs include: Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program; Technology Transfer Centers; National Summer Transportation Institute for Secondary School Students; Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program; Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups; and The University Transportation Centers Program. In my district of Baltimore, Maryland, the Morgan State University Transportation Center (UTC) is making strides to meet society's needs for transportation professionals. The theme of Morgan's UTC is ``Transportation: A Key to Human and Economic Development.'' The Center promotes transportation-related careers, and provides training and research opportunities to equip future transportation professionals with the knowledge and skills required to plan, develop and manage transportation systems. These skills include, but are not limited to, designing and implementing intermodal transportation facilities, advanced highway construction, magnetic levitation technology and smart growth community planning. The Department of Transportation is taking a strong stand on this issue. Just this week, the DOT Modal Administrators and influential leaders in the transportation professional community attended the inaugural National Transportation Workforce Summit in Washington, D.C. The attendees participated in workshops focusing on the Workforce Pipeline, Training and Development, and Institutionalizing Workforce Development. The signing of ``A Partnership for Educating, Training and Developing the Nation's Transportation Workforce'' by Summit participants on May 13, 2002, was an important outcome of the meeting. The signers of the document agreed to work in partnership to: 1. Provide, within their own agencies and organizations, a focus on implementing programs and policies that will assure the development, support and management of an efficient and effective workforce; 2. Support partnership efforts in the transportation and education communities that will help build young people's interest in transportation careers, and will support continuing education, training and professional development opportunities for today's and tomorrow's workers; and 3. Promote a greater understanding that an efficient, well-trained workforce is critical to developing, operating, and managing the Nation's transportation system, and it is vital to National security, U.S. economic growth, and the quality of life for all Americans. As we continue to review issues related to TEA-21 and prepare for its reauthorization, I hope that we will begin to look at how we can assist the Department of Transportation and the transportation professional community in meeting these goals to address the transportation development needs of our nation.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Carla Hayden, a community leader and current executive director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library from my district in Baltimore, who has just been elected by a landslide to serve as the President of the American Library Association. She will be the second African-American woman to hold this very prestigious post in the association's 126-year history. The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the entire world. Dr. Hayden will serve as its President-elect beginning this July and then take over as President in July 2003. In this position, Dr. Hayden will lead an organization of more than 64,000 librarians, library trustees and library supporters. But what is most significant about this association is that it represents the hub of our communities. Libraries connect us to the world around us, help us reflect upon our past and open the doors to our future. All of us remember either visiting our local library or using the facility at school. Libraries serve people in many ways. They enhance our quality of life by providing a quiet place to sit, read and learn. But that is not what libraries are all about. They are vital community centers that provide Internet access, family literacy classes, homework assistance, mentoring programs, English as a second language classes, job training and writing workshops. In addition, today's libraries play a critical role in bridging the digital divide. Since Dr. Carla Hayden began to head the Baltimore Library System, which is known as the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the State of Maryland has stood as a national model for other libraries to build upon. The Enoch Pratt Free Library has served Baltimore and the surrounding communities since 1882. In 1971, the General Assembly designated the Enoch Pratt Library as the Maryland State Library Resource Center because of its outstanding and diverse collection. It was one of the first libraries that included all Members of the community. Today, Pratt Central Library is in the process of building an annex that will allow the library to be of greater service to the entire community. This new addition will house a Maryland Reading Room, an African American Reading Room, a public computer lab, and a SAILOR Operations Center, just to name a few. Dr. Hayden was instrumental in establishing the SAILOR Project. The SAILOR Project is the Nation's first library data network with Internet access and an interlibrary loan system that provides Maryland residents access to information any time of the day from any location within the State. Dr. Hayden is also known as a key player in advancing the E-Rate Program, which was included in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and signed by President Clinton. This landmark legislation gave libraries access to Internet and information technology at discounted rates. Dr. Hayden's nationwide experience will greatly contribute to her position as President of the American Library Association. One of Dr. Hayden's goals for the organization is to ensure equal access for all. After winning the election, Dr. Hayden said, ``All people who seek knowledge, from birth to college, deserve opportunities for growth and exploration.'' Prior to coming to Baltimore in 1993, Dr. Hayden served as the Chief Librarian of the Chicago Public Library System and taught graduate studies as assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science of the University of Pittsburgh. Currently she is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Library and Information Services of the University of Maryland at College Park. I continue to be especially impressed by Dr. Hayden's efforts to encourage minority students to enter the field of library science. Since the mid-1990s, she has chaired the American Library Association's Spectrum Initiative, a program that gives financial assistance to students working to obtain their Master's Degree. Mr. Speaker, that is just one of the reasons that Dr. Hayden was recognized by Library Journal in 1995 as Librarian of the Year and was recognized as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women by Warfield's Business Record in 1996. She also has received the Legacy of Literacy Award from the DuBois Circle of Baltimore, the Andrew White Medal from Loyola College, the President's Medal from Johns Hopkins University and an honorary degree from Morgan State University. In the words of media celebrity Tavis Smiley, Dr. Hayden stands out because she shows a passion for her work. ``Life is too short,'' he says, ``to not do something that you are passionate about.'' Dr. Hayden exemplifies that passion. Again, on behalf of all the citizens of the Great State of Maryland and this Congress, we congratulate Dr. Carla Hayden. Baltimore is proud to have her serve in the role she now serves the Nation and, indeed, the world.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, recently I was visited here in Washington by the Maryland Chapter of the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Their message was very simple. This year alone, more than 225,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 40,000 women will die from this terrible disease. Despite these statistics, we still do not know what causes breast cancer, how to prevent it, or how to treat it effectively. The National Breast Cancer Coalition needs our help in moving towards their goal of eradicating this dreadful disease. I want to add that combining all age groups, Caucasian women are more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women. However, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. Past studies show that nearly half, 47 percent, of all African-American women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer die from the disease within 10 years. I come to the floor today with two questions: What can we do to end the suffering and needless loss of life, and what can Congress do? What can we do? Individually we need to make sure our loved ones, friends, family and coworkers have an annual mammogram and perform a monthly self-breast examination. Today, there is no cure. So prevention is the answer. I do not care how you get them to the examination room, beg or plead, but it must be done. Life is precious. Save a life by encouraging yearly mammograms and monthly self-breast exams. What can we do as Members of Congress? There is legislation that is pending in committees that needs to be enacted and enacted now. Every day more women are diagnosed with cancer. Every day women are dying from the disease. I urge, no, I beg my colleagues to support and ensure that legislation is passed in this session that will lead to a cure for breast cancer. In the meantime, I beg my colleagues to help those who will develop or have breast cancer by providing medication for breast cancer. Specifically what can we do? We must enact H.R. 1624, the Access to Cancer Therapies Act. This bill would provide Medicare coverage of oral anti-cancer drugs. This legislation extends coverage for all cancer drugs, whether it is oral or injectable. What can we do? We must enact H.R. 1723, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. It is generally believed that our environment plays a role in the development of breast cancer. The extent of its role is uncertain. This bill would make grants for multi- institutional and multi-discipline research centers to study the links between the environment and breast cancer. What can we do? We must provide $175 million in the fiscal year 2003 Department of Defense appropriations for their Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Programs. Since 1992, this program has brought clinical trials into community settings, provided training and recruitment awards to doctors and scientists, and given grants to further promising ideas that could lead to a cure. More than 90 percent of this funding goes directly to the funding of these grants. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must enact H.R. 602, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act. This bill prohibits health insurers and employers from discriminating based on genetic information. Passage of all these legislative measures would go a long way to help eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 388, a resolution to designate April as National Minority Health and Health Disparities Month. In 2000, the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Surgeon General established National Minority Health Month to promote national health and disease prevention. The goal was to build a public- private partnership, foster cultural competency among health care providers, encourage health education and training, and expand the use of state-of-the-art technology. It is intended to be an inclusive initiative that addresses the health needs of African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians. Because the month will be nationally recognized, it will serve to raise awareness and reduce the problem of minority health disparity. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, the Congressional Black Caucus held its annual Health Braintrust. This year's focus was on minority health disparities. Testifying at the hearing from my district were Dr. Martha N. Hill, Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing; Professor Thomas E. Perez, who was the immediate past director of the Office on Civil Rights at HHS; and Dr. Thomas LaVeist, Johns Hopkins University, and an active health care researcher, including the role of race in health care services. Also testifying were the authors of the Institute of Medicine's report, ``Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.'' The primary finding of this report publication, ``Unequal Treatment,'' states that due to disparities in health care treatment, blacks and other minorities do not live as long as Caucasians. Why is that? Because according to the Institute of Medicine's publication of ``Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care,'' even those of us who are fortunate enough to have health insurance receive inferior medical care compared to our caucasian counterparts, even when insurance coverages are the same. I would like to cite some of the specific facts for the record, and I think my colleagues might find them very, very disturbing. African Americans were 1.5 times more likely to be denied managed care authorization in an urban emergency room. For senior citizens, African American patients were four times less likely than Caucasians to receive needed coronary bypass surgery. Black male seniors were nearly two times less likely to receive treatment for prostate cancer. And this is incredible, but black seniors were 3.6 times more likely to have lower limbs amputated due to diabetes. Think about it. Due to poor health care, African Americans and other minorities do not live as long as Caucasians. Blacks are 24 percent less likely to receive life- preserving medications for HIV and AIDS; 20 percent of blacks and 33 percent of Hispanics lack health insurance. This is two and three times greater than the rate for Caucasians. These disparities permeate in minority communities. For example, as a Social Security issue, blacks collect fewer retirement benefits because we die earlier. I guess on the upside, while we comprise about 12 percent of the United States population, we collect about 23 percent of the Social Security disability benefits. Think about it. This is not a Social Security issue; it is a health issue. Mr. Speaker, if there were equity in health care, African Americans would be able to work longer and live longer. Think about it. The economic impact of poor health care created for all Americans is crucial. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote in favor of this. I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), and I thank the other side for their courtesy and kindness.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 15th annual National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, to highlight and bring attention to the cancer care needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged and medically underserved communities. I come to the floor today to recognize the American Cancer Society, the Intercultural Cancer Council, and the National Center for Minority Health and Disparities at the National Institutes of Health for their continued work to increase the awareness of cancer and reduce health disparities among minorities. While there has been a decline in cancer mortality since 1991, cancer still is the second leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for more than 555,500 deaths each year. That is more than 1,500 deaths a day. But what is most disheartening and most disturbing is that minority and medically underserved populations continue to bear a startling disproportionate share of the Nation's cancer burden. According to the American Cancer Society, African American men and women have a cancer death rate of about 33 percent higher than whites. Among women younger than 50 years of age, African Americans are more likely to develop breast cancer than whites. Prostate cancer will claim the lives of more than twice as many African American men as men of other racial and ethnic groups. African Americans are at a significantly higher risk of death from intrauterine and bladder cancers. Hispanic women have nearly twice the rates of cervical cancer than non-Hispanic white women. Hispanics are less likely than other minorities to have a regular source of health care, visited a physician in the past year, and received a routine physical examination. Native American women with breast cancer have the lowest 5-year survival rate of any United States racial/ethnic group. And native Hawaiian women have the highest incidence and mortality rates of endometrial cancers of all United States women. There is something equally as important as statistics, and that is the question, why our cancer rates are disproportionately high among minorities. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on April 23 of this year, higher cancer rates in minorities seem to stem from difference in treatment, not biological or genetic differences. I say to my colleagues, to be truly effective in eradicating all types of cancer, the Federal health agenda must address low-income minorities and medically underserved populations. I think Congress can be instrumental in helping to accomplish this goal in this country. In fact, at my request during the 106th Congress, the Committee on Government Reform held a hearing that afforded us the opportunity to engage in a more exhaustive investigation of the disparities in cancer treatments of minorities. This hearing was a positive first step in addressing the issue of disparities and cancer treatment of minorities in the United States. In keeping with this point, Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, chaired by the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), met to discuss a report which had been requested by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) and others, from the Institute of Medicine and that report was titled ``Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.'' This report concluded that Americans of color tend to receive lower- quality health care than do whites; and these disparities contribute to high death rates of African Americans from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other life-endangering conditions. The American Cancer Society, health care providers, community organizations, and State and local agencies and many other participants agree that we need to do more; that there needs to be more cooperation between the Department of Health and Human Services, local and State health agencies, medical schools, businesses, et cetera, to address the disparities in minorities health care treatment but especially for life-endangering illnesses like cancer. Let us recognize the National Minority Cancer Week as an opportunity to increase awareness in the knowledge of cancer detection treatment and risk through, among other things, target outreach programs to minorities and other underserved communities.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I also thank the gentleman for the resolution. It is certainly a pleasure to congratulate the Maryland Terrapins on winning the NCAA tournament. As a graduate of the University of Maryland, it makes me feel real good. I think the thing that impressed me so much about this team was not just what they did on the court, but it was their demeanor off the court. They were never bragging; they showed a lot of humility and a determination that I have not seen from many teams. Just talking to the people in my neighborhood, many of them are admirers of the team; but, in particular, many of them knew Juan Dixon personally. I think it inspired a lot of them to be the best that they can be, even under adverse circumstances. So often when we look at a team, we look at the win and loss column. But that is not all that goes into it. Particularly with this University of Maryland team, with Juan, whose both parents died as a result of AIDS and drug use, and to emerge to where he has gotten to today says a whole lot, and has given a lot of hope to a lot of people. So not only is it a great team on the court, but a great team off the court too. To Gary Williams, I worry about him quite a bit on the sidelines. I will tell my colleagues, I worry whether he is going to have a heart attack over there. But the fact is he puts his soul into this team, and we are certainly very, very proud in the State of Maryland to have such a great team; and may God bless all of them, and may God bless the University of Maryland.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of glaucoma awareness and the importance of early detection to prevent blindness among Americans. Glaucoma, a debilitating eye disease that strikes without warning and often without symptoms, blinds more than 5,500 Americans annually. While impacting all Americans, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans. Because eye damage from glaucoma cannot be reversed, early detection and treatment are the only ways to prevent vision impairment and blindness. As a member of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, I am pleased to announce that glaucoma will take on a renewed emphasis on March 6, as the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation and Pharmacia Corporation join forces to bring glaucoma awareness and screenings to those at risk around the United States. Capitol Vision, the call-to-action and educational campaign, will challenge Americans to learn more about glaucoma and encourage them to take positive steps to protect their vision. Capitol Vision will especially emphasize the importance of glaucoma awareness among African-Americans, who are three to four times more likely to go blind from glaucoma than are Caucasians. We will also raise awareness of the Medicare Improvement Act--effective since January 2002--that adds Medicare coverage of annual glaucoma screenings for people who are at high risk for glaucoma. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-New York); Bud Grant, CEO, Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation; Eve Higginbotham, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Paul Chaney, Vice-President, Global Ophthalmology Business, Pharmacia Corporation; Herman Washington, WHUR- FM; and Sharon Matthews, a glaucoma patient, will joint me to kick off the campaign with a media briefing in the Rayburn building on March 6 in Washington, D.C. Capitol Vision will then travel to communities throughout the country to provide free glaucoma screenings. The first screening will take place in Rep. Rangel's district in late March. I am honored to join forces with such a distinguished group to tackle a very important health concern. I strongly encourage other members of Congress to join us in our efforts to promote early detection of glaucoma so that we can eradicate a disease that steals the sight of many Americans.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I am pleased to come to the House floor to speak in honor of Black history month. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson started Black history week to bring national attention to the contributions of Black people to this nation. Since 1976, Americans annually recognize February as Black history month. This year's theme, ``[t]he Color Line Revisited, Is Racism Dead?'', reminds us as a nation to examine our haunted past, while affording us an opportunity to appreciate how African-Americans have been instrumental in shaping the spirit of our nation, despite the barriers imposed by racism. As I take this opportunity to recognize the triumphs of African-Americans, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the losses we have suffered. I would like to recount one particularly painful loss endured by African-Americans, that of land loss. Madam Speaker, on January 12, 1865, General William T. Sherman met with 20 black community leaders of Savannah, Georgia. The following day, General Sherman issued Special Field Order Number 15 which set aside the Sea Islands off the Georgia coast and a 30-mile tract of land along the southern coast of South Carolina for the exclusive settlement of black families. This land, along with other confiscated and abandoned land, fell under the jurisdiction of the Freedmen's Bureau, a government entity created to assist former slaves. Each family was to receive 40 acres of land and an Army mule to work the land, thus the origin of ``40 acres and a mule.'' The Freedmen's Bureau lent a helping hand to former slaves in their new-found freedom by assisting them in taking advantage of the government's promise of land and a chance at prosperity. Unfortunately, the government never lived up to its promise of 40 acres and a mule. During the fall of 1865, President Andrew Johnson issued special pardons which returned the confiscated property of many ex- Confederates. The Freedmen's Bureau was stripped of most of its power, and much of the land that had been leased to black farmers was taken and returned to the Confederates. Nevertheless, despite the absence of government assistance, many African-Americans on their own managed to purchase land. Despite the failure of our Federal Government to make good on a promise of assistance and despite open hostility and racial discrimination, between the end of the Civil War and 1910, African American families in the South amassed a land base of over 15 million acres. This was by no means an easily accomplished feat. Many sacrifices were made, and much hard work went into the efforts of African Americans to fulfill the American dream and own their own land. By 1920, there were 925,000 African American farmers. In 1999, the figures had dropped to less than 17,000 African American farmers with less than 3 million acres of land. Fast forward to the year 2002, and many of us in the African American community look back on a promise made to us in 1865 that was never realized. We have to acknowledge the fact that not only did the government fail black farmers and landowners in 1865, it seems that the government has played and active role in depriving African Americans of property acquired through their own hard work and sacrifices. In some cases, the government approved taking lands from African Americans; in others, it actually participated. How many cases have we heard where African Americans, through intimidation, trickery, fraud, and outright violence, have been driven from their land or lost family homesteads? In spite of bitter struggles to hold onto their land, many African Americans have lost land involuntarily and have received no remedy to correct these injustices. We as a people recognize land ownership is an integral source of power. Cases of government-condoned land-taking are viewed by the black community as a campaign to deprive African Americans of our ownership rights as American citizens. For African Americans who have struggled to overcome the legacy of slavery, the loss of lands is particularly devastating. Land ownership is viewed as a source of economic security and prosperity. Since the mid-1800s when black Americans were first promised the opportunity to own land, we have sought to gain economic freedom, prosperity, and respect through our land and pass that legacy on to future generations. In spite of the fact that our government has failed us and reneged on a promise of yesterday, we have shown that we have the drive and the determination to overcome adversity in our quest to share the prosperity to which we are entitled. This does not mean, however, that we will accept the discrimination practices and government-sanctioned schemes that served to rob African American landowners of property that they have literally in some cases shed blood, sweat, and tears to attain and maintain. As policymakers, we have an obligation to respond to the critical issue of land loss in the African American community. The link that has been established between land ownership, community, and democratic participation makes it critical that we are committed in our efforts to help black landowners hold onto their land. We must preserve a legacy that is worthy of passing on to future generations.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Congress has defined a hate crime as ``any act of violence against a person or property based on the victims' race, color, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability.'' We have all seen the many forms that crimes of hate can take. We have witnessed crimes perpetrated against persons based on their ethnicity or race; due to a person's sexual orientation; or based on a person's religion. Recently, we have witnessed numerous, heinous crimes against Muslims and Shiks based on their identity and religion. These are crimes of hate perpetrated against Americans and should be prosecuted with a heightened sense of responsibility. FBI statistics revel that in 1999, a total of 7,876 bias-motivated criminal incidents were reported. Of these incidents: 4,295 were motivated by racial bias; 1,411 by religious bias; 1,317 by sexual- orientation bias; 829 by ethnicity/national origin bias; 19 by disability bias; and 5 by multiple bias. As we discuss this issue, I believe that there are two questions our nation must answer. First, why should we care? I submit to you today that we should care because our nation was built on a foundation of democracy and independence for all. Our Declaration of Independence states: ``We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.'' We all take pride in these words, but we all have a duty, as American people, to recognize that this principle applies to all of our nation's citizens regardless of their race or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability status. I believe that in this time of national emergency it is critical that we remain a ``unified America'' and reach out across our differences in ethnicity, race, and religion to respect each other and to celebrate the differences. We must all remember that although we are a melting pot of various cultures, ideals, and physical makeups, we are all one human race. As one 16-year-old recently wrote: He prayed--it wasn't my religion. He ate--it wasn't what I ate. He spoke--it wasn't my language. He dressed--it wasn't what I wore. He took my hand--it wasn't the color of mine. But when he laughed--it was how I laughed, and when he cried--it was how I cried. The second question our nation must answer is ``How can we put an end to hate violence? The American people must take action. We must have a united and determined partnership of elected officials, law enforcement entities, businesses, community organizations, churches and religious organizations, and schools. Congress must also take action. Yes, statistics have shed light on the prevalence of hate crimes in our society. However, hate crimes are often under reported. Although we gather significant information as a result of the Hate Crimes Statistics Act, this act makes the reporting of hate crimes by state and local jurisdictions voluntary, leaving gaps in information from key jurisdictions. (For example, of the 100 most populous cities in the U.S., 10 did not participate in the reporting of hate crime data in 1997.) We should encourage all jurisdictions to collect, record, and report hate crime data so that we may have a true understanding of the depth and nature of this issue. It is also our duty to ensure that our nation's laws fully protect all of its citizens. Our existing civil rights laws protect citizens against crimes involving acts of violence because of race, color, religion, or national origin. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2001 (H.R. 1343) would for the first time broaden federal jurisdiction under civil rights law by adding gender, disability, and sexual orientation to the categories protected by these laws. In addition, it would remove limits on the prosecution of hate crimes that are not committed under ``federally protected'' activities under existing civil rights laws, such as voting, attending school, serving on a jury, or traveling for purposes of interstate commerce. As such, I call for immediate consideration and passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act which would allow prosecution of serious, violent hate crimes, regardless of whether a federally protected right was being exercised. Nonaction translates into not caring. Nonaction translates into condoning the hatred that continues to permeate this nation. But most significant, nonaction translates into silence. And as Martin Luther King stated: ``We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.''

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I stand today to honor the nearly 800,000 postal employees (including 49,000 employees with disabilities and 251,000 veterans) who faithfully serve this nation by: delivering 200 billion pieces of mail each year to 134 million addresses, including 20 million post office boxes; carrying more mail to more people over a larger geographic area than any other country; serving 7 million customers daily at one of 38,000 postal retail outlets; collecting mail from more than 312,000 street mail collection boxes; and as individual carriers, delivering about 2,300 pieces of mail a day to 500 addresses. Postal employees carry out these duties despite adverse environmental and weather conditions, including difficult terrain, extreme heat, rain, sleet and cold. They now face a different kind of adverse condition--a war. Our war on terrorism has placed postal workers at the front lines of a battle against those who seek to harm our nation's citizens by contaminating a valuable and critical component of our society's way of life--the mail. This is not a duty they signed up for, but it is one that they have faced, accepted and carried out with grace, dignity and fortitude! Despite the tragic terrorism perpetrated on our soil and the deaths of two of their colleagues, postal employees have delivered about 34 billion pieces of mail since September 11 in the face of a continued threat to their health and lives. Recently, I met with postal workers from my district. They are proud to work for the postal service, but are concerned for their safety. They assured me that neither rain, snow, nor anthrax laced letters would keep them from delivering the mail. However, with that renewed pledge and resolve, they wanted my assurance that the government cared about them. H. Con. Res. 257 provides this body with the opportunity to thank them for their resolve and all they have done to keep the mail flowing. The men and women of the U.S. Postal Service have done an outstanding job of delivering the mail during this time of national emergency. Further, I believe that is our duty to assure their safety and well- being as they continue to carry out their duties and responsibilities. As such, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, our postal workers and our U.S. mail system!

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, imagine a world where you are: banned from revealing any skin and are required to be fully covered even in stifling heat; and banned from wearing white shoes because it is the color of your nation's flags; or shoes that are high heels because they may make noise. Imagine a world where you are: unable to leave your home without permission; and where working and gaining education are illegal. Imagine a world where a woman is: banned from men-only hospitals, even in the severest of medical emergencies and the hospitals that are available have no oxygen, clean water, intravenous equipment, medicine, or x-ray machines. Imagine a world where: you attend a sporting event but cannot display any emotion and may experience the interruption of the event for the purpose of a ``public execution'' of a woman; possibly carried out by her own family member and witnessed by her children and other children in attendance. Finally, imagine a world where: it is taboo to read the religious book that is used to set these rules. For some people this is not an imaginary world. For Afghan woman this is their reality. Women in Afghanistan have suffered an assault on their human rights during more than 20 years of war and under the repressive rule of the Taliban, which emerged as a military force in 1994 and declared itself the government of Afghanistan. Taliban decrees have basically restricted women in all aspects of their lives. These restrictions are religiously and institutionally sanctioned and include: (a) Dress codes; (b) prohibitions against work and education; and (c) various acts of violence against women. In fact, violence against women in Afghanistan has reached pandemic proportions. Women and girls are systemically subjected to rape, kidnaping, forced marriage or prostitution. As expected, the mental health of these women has severely deteriorated and some have committed suicide. Many women were educated before the Taliban took power and they represented 70 percent of all teachers, 50 percent of civil servants, and 40 percent of medical doctors. These same women can no longer practice their trades or work at all and have been basically relegated to non human status. I am sure it is difficult for many Americans to imagine the existence of these women. But we must attempt to understand their pain. America is a land that stands for justice and human rights and as the leaders of this great nation, I ask my colleagues to be committed to maintaining these principles in our nation and around the world. We must work to safeguard women's human rights and ensure that individuals, terrorist groups, government forces and armed groups are prevented from committing human rights violations. That is why I commend my colleague in organizing this Special Order to bring this grave and serious issue to light. September 11, 2001 has changed all of our lives. We are fighting a war against terrorism and in defense of our homeland. However, we must remember that terrorism comes in various forms and includes violations of human rights. The Afghan women are currently being terrorized by the Taliban. It is my hope that, as we fight this war we are not only fighting against the Taliban because they may harbor terrorists, but also because their restrictions and atrocities against women in Afghanistan are, in fact, terrorist acts. It is my hope that we will one day be able to imagine a world where Afghan women are able to live freely as first class citizens of a progressively democratic society, a world where we are free of terrorism, and a world where peace is the norm. I urge my colleagues and the international community to unite towards this goal and make it a reality.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Chairman, when it comes to the check being signed by the lowest bidder, I must worry. The fact is that we are at a critical juncture in our attempt to protect our Nation. We have been entrusted by the American people to make crucial decisions that will affect and protect their lives. The American people expect for us to get it right. It is time to acknowledge the fact that private sector management of our Nation's aviation system has miserably failed us. By refusing to take the appropriate action to correct the problem, we run the risk of experiencing a repeat of September 11 and the risk of abusing the trust of the American people. The appropriate action is federalization of our aviation security system. There have been accusations that support of federalization is an attempt to bolster Federal employee unions. Our accusers have forgotten that the majority of the brave Americans who were hailed as heroes on September 11 are union members and have gone beyond the call of duty. I believe federalized airport security personnel would provide the same high standard of service. Let us put politics aside and pass the bipartisan substitute.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) for this resolution. It is indeed a very important resolution. When we look back on September 11 of this year, we cannot help but be reminded that we are indeed bounded by the reality of our mortality. We had a situation where, unfortunately, many of our fellow Americans perished when they were merely trying to do what they do every day: hard-working Americans going to work, sitting at a desk, writing a memo, walking down the hall, going to get some papers from another office, doing what they do every day. They knew how their day began, but they had no knowledge as to how it would end. So because of the mean-spirited efforts of a few people, their lives came to an end; and they left mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, cousins, friends, relatives and neighbors behind. This Patriot Day is so significant because there are so many things that we have seen over the last month or two since September 11 to remind us of how great this country is and how great Americans are. Perhaps one of the things that is etched into my mind and that will be etched, Mr. Speaker, for the rest of my life is how the gentleman called the dispatcher from the plane and as he talked, he asked her to say the 23rd Psalm with him. He then made the decision that he was not going to let his life perish and the others' lives perish; he was going to try to do something about it. Mr. Speaker, that is the American spirit, the spirit that makes up what we call patriots. Many others did the same thing, just to hear about some of those last-minute phone calls which will forever be etched into our minds. Every September 11 we will be reminded of those great, great people. But there was also something else that happened that day. We had an opportunity to stop majoring in minors and begin majoring in majors: those things that are so important in our lives, our family. We were reminded how significant it is that every single person has value, and that it did not make any difference whether they were Hispanic, white, black, Asian, it did not make any difference. The fact is that we saw long lines in New York and in Baltimore and all over the country of people trying to give blood to help out. We saw the firemen with ashes all over their faces. We saw grown men with tears in their eyes. This is what America is all about. This is what America is all about. When we celebrate this Patriot Day, it will be a day that will be etched in the memory of all of us, and we will join together, I am sure on that day, every year on September 11 and say we shall never let it happen again. Again, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) for his foresight. I am reminded of a saying that our children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see, and this is a very, very, very important message.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a great American, Baltimore City Councilwoman Bea Gaddy, who a few days ago succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 68. For decades, Bea Gaddy fed and sheltered the poor and homeless in our city of Baltimore. In 1992, then President George Bush included her among Americans he honored as ``Points of Light.'' Upon learning of Bea Gaddy's death, Maryland Governor Parris Glendening observed that she ``was a beacon of hope for those who felt hopeless.'' She had a unique ability to reach out and help people. She effectively articulated that strong communities are created when we recognize that every member of the community is important. Mr. Speaker, as the testaments of these national leaders witnessed, Bea Gaddy's vision for America transcended the divisions of race, class, and party that all too often limit our potential as a people. Her legacy was directed to those of us who have the ability to give, as well as to the thousands whom she helped to survive poverty. Every year, hundreds of volunteers and I joined Mrs. Gaddy for the Thanksgiving dinner she prepared for those who were homeless. As I watched her tireless and forever smiling generosity towards others, I realized that God had sent us an angel, that God was reminding us through her that every person has value. Mrs. Gaddy used her own trials in life as a passport for helping others. Her love for other people, and especially for those in the greatest need, became a force for compassion and change throughout Baltimore and the rest of America. Our hearts go out to Mrs. Gaddy's family as we join them in mourning the loss of a truly remarkable human being. Bea Gaddy challenged those who came to her caught in the grip of poverty to take control of their own destinies. She helped them to learn the skills of perseverance that would uplift their lives. Bea Gaddy also called upon those of us to whom life has been generous, asking that we share our fortunes and our lives with those who are less fortunate. Poor and rich alike, the people of Baltimore responded to her vision because of the conviction that she had gained from the trials in her life. As I stated at her funeral a few days ago, she fully understood that we are all the walking wounded, and that at some point in our lives, every single one of us will stand like the blind man on the corner of a busy highway waiting for someone to lead us across. We knew that she herself had been born into poverty during the Great Depression. This remarkable woman had once been forced by her own childhood of poverty to scavenge for food from the garbage bins of restaurants and grocery stores. We, who knew and worked with Bea Gaddy, realized that her life had been filled with poverty and pain. We also knew, however, that she had transformed her life, completing high school, earning a college degree, and marrying a wonderful man named Mr. Lacy Gaddy, who died in 1995. Bea Gaddy became known and beloved throughout Maryland for those wonderful annual Thanksgiving dinners that she provided to as many as 20,000 needy people. She was admired for her efforts to provide toys to the poor children at Christmastime, for distributing donated shoes and clothing in the winter months, and for the summer camp she helped to sustain. It is less well known, however, that many of the people whom Bea Gaddy fed and encouraged there at her North Collington Avenue row home in Baltimore later returned to volunteer after they had become self-reliant members of the community. Mrs. Gaddy's life teaches us that a saint does more than minister to our needs; a saint also inspires by the witness of her life. In 1999, Bea Gaddy took her mission on behalf of those whom America had left behind to the Baltimore City Council. During the last 2 years of her life, she continued to work in the community while advocating for housing, employment, and health care programs in the halls of Baltimore local government. We will hold her family in our prayers. Mr. Speaker, tonight, 600,000 Americans will struggle to find shelter because they have no home to call their own. Nearly one-half of them will have work at jobs this week, but not have earned enough money to afford a home. By the legacy of the life of Bea Gaddy, she offered America a clear vision of compassion and commitment that can address this national tragedy. Mr. Speaker, a great American is gone from our midst, but we have been empowered to carry on her work.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to support this resolution offered by two of my Maryland colleagues, Representatives Cardin and Ehrlich, honoring Cal Ripken, Jr., the current 3rd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles and baseball's ``Iron Man,'' for his contributions to baseball and the community. Cal Ripken is involved in numerous philanthropic activities, including the Kelly & Cal Ripken, Jr. Foundation, started in 1992, which primarily support community adult and family literacy, youth recreation, and health-related programs in the greater Baltimore area. He and his wife, Kelly, also support adult literacy through Baltimore Reads, Inc. We are here to acknowledge a person that gives back so much to his community and we thank him. However, we are here today to primarily honor Cal Ripken as a great baseball player. Cal Ripken joined the Baltimore Orioles in 1982 and has stayed with the same team throughout his long and impressive career. The 1982 American League Rookie of the Year and a two-time American League MVP, Cal was elected to start in the 2001 All-Star Game. It was his 19th consecutive All-Star nomination and a record 17th as a starter. Ripken was presented the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award during the 2001 All-Star Game, by Commissioner Bud Selig. It is only appropriate that Cal was also named the game's MVP during his last appearance at an All-Star game. On September 4, 2001, Cal Ripken, Jr., hit his 600th double, joining Hank Aaron, Stan Musial and Carl Yastremski as the only players with 600 doubles, 400 home runs, 5,000 total bases and 3,000 hits. His performance this year is indicative of his entire career. As a review, Cal became the second player in 1991, in major league history to be named the leagues' MVP, Major League player of the year, All-Star Game MVP, and winner of a Gold Glove in the same season. Cal broke Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played. Cal played every day for several years, finally sitting down in 1995, after having played in 2,632 games. Cal holds the Major League record for consecutive games played. He is one of seven players in the history of the game to amass more than 3,000 hits and more than 400 home runs. Cal led the Baltimore Orioles to World Series victory in 1983. These remarkable accomplishments mark just the highlights of an outstanding baseball player. In the field and off, he has built a strong reputation as a leader. Eleven teams have held special tributes to honor the ``Iron Man'' since he announced his retirement. Cal's last farewell game will be this Saturday during a rescheduled game played at home. Baltimore City, the Nation, and Major League Baseball will miss Cal. He brought character, dignity, and loyalty to the game of baseball and the Orioles franchise. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution and support a great sports hero.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a plea for help from our airlines, and provided an immediate response to ensure that a key component of our economy, the airline industry, remains intact. But I have also heard pleas for help from the many people and businesses that are critical to the efficient functioning of the aviation system: skycaps, cabbies, and the employees of airlines, restaurants, and the variety of shops found in airports. Thousands of hard-working Americans have taken pay cuts or have lost their jobs but still have bills to pay. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members, we have heard the airlines and we have quickly responded. I only urge us to hear the pleas of individual Americans and respond to them, also.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, a great atrocity has been leveled against this Nation and its citizens. We must now seek justice for our Nation, the American people, and all humanity. But justice comes in many forms and the scales of justice must be carefully balanced. On one side, we place our commitment to spare no effort in eradicating terrorism and punishing those responsible for these deplorable crimes. On the other, we balance the responsibility to hold true to our Nation's principles, to be cognizant of innocent life, and to use military force only when necessary. This is a difficult scale to balance, but I believe that we have a duty to reach the appropriate equilibrium that justice requires. I strongly support the will of this President, Congress, and our citizenry to defend ourselves against our enemies with unrelenting force. It is my only hope that such force will be balanced and guarantees the justice we all deserve. May God bless America.